#inspiringsustainableislington
community projects sustaining our local environment
Find a local treepit in need of tlc, pretty up your windowboxes, plant your garden with bee and insect friendly flowers, grow a herb garden, get the children involved …. lots of opportunities to enter the local ‘In Bloom’ competition run by Islington Council. It runs until 4 July and is on-line so you need to enter photos of your entries. More details. Pssst – it’s easy to apply to maintain a treepit – see link – there is an existing process !
We’re just pulling together the final speakers for a fab webinar ….. five people who are involved in local projects to make our grey environment green; more details to be announced in the next week. If you are looking for inspiration on what you can do on your own doorstep then keep an eye out for the date. As usual, we’ll be issuing free tickets on EventBrite but will update our blog first. Can’t wait !
Your help please for a Geography and urban planning student. She’s currently working on her dissertation on cycling as a sustainable transport mode. Her research is looking into the barriers to cycling as a sustainable transport mode within Islington for different social groups. How can you help ? Give an interview lasting half an hour – illuminating, fun and a fascinating topic. Let us know and we’ll put you in touch !
The webinar with speakers Cllr Rowena Champion and Dr William Bird on 24 February was fascinating; we all somehow knew that active travel was good for us but the medical science by Intelligent Health, Dr Bird’s company, was so compelling. Fingers crossed that Beat the Streets might be implemented in Islington later this year; the whole community would support that ! Slides available soon.
Islington Council’s Nature Conservation Team is currently recruiting for an apprentice. This consists of a two year opportunity to build on your interest in nature and your desire to work outdoors whilst working towards a Level 2 Country Worker qualification. You will work to help manage and maintain the borough’s three nature reserves and Islington Ecology Centre. More information here http://islington.trac.jobs/job/v2879548
Our next webinar is on Wednesday 24 February at 2000 when our speakers will be Cllr Rowena Champion, Transport & Environment lead at Islington Council and Dr William Bird the founder of Intelligent Health. They will discuss how People Friendly Streets (Low Traffic Neighbourhoods) enable more active travel to support physical and mental wellbeing to say nothing of social distancing during the pandemic and as we are facing massive climate change. Sign up on EventBrite here !
On this day in 2020, we held our first meeting in the Town Hall with 10 speakers from different Islington community groups. Although this site wasn’t live then, it was launched in April and we hope has kept the community spirit live throughout what has been a difficult time for so many. A big thank you to all the groups who have joined in and who have worked hard to improve our environment in so many different ways.
Meantime, we have a new date for your diaries – Wednesday 24 February – when our topic is Active Travel. Getting people physically active not only improves mental and physical health and wellbeing, it also saves public money and improves our environment. Changing behaviour isn’t easy but it’s imperative, faced with the pandemic and climate change, to support everyone in making safe active travel part of their daily lives. We know it’s possible and what’s more, we know it’s fun.
Speakers to be announced very soon !
ICAP have been busy ! They have their launch of the Clean Air Toolkit for Schools at the end of January so book your ticket on Eventbrite and find out how you can campaign for cleaner air, a reduction in toxic air pollution and improve the environment at your childrens’ school. More info here: https://islingtoncleanairparents.wordpress.com/2020/12/21/clean-air-toolkit-for-schools-launch-event/
On 5 December, about 15 volunteers from many different groups got together round a pop-up parklet to hand out leaflets and chat to passers-by about the many benefits of LTNs, People Friendly Streets. Many people were enthusiastic about them and loved the safer, quieter streets and cleaner air and lots of families were out and about enjoying the sun. A few people had some concerns which we will pass on to the Council.
We now have several Low Traffic Neighbourhoods in Islington, all of which are delivering safer, quieter streets, cleaner air and more opportunities for communities to get together. Get involved in your local LTN, come and enjoy the ones already implemented, work towards your own LTN as the programme is rolled out. Importantly, talk to your councillors who hold regular ward partnership meetings and who are keen to hear from residents. More information here
